as in scams
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in studies
to commit to memory
usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reviews
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition)
seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hustles
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in tricks
to cause to believe what is untrue
tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cons
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
Read this for details of how to download and read on for the pros and cons of installing the new software now.
—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The board weighed the pros and cons.
—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
Downside To Dryer Balls Dryer balls don't have many cons.
—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
At the same time, the process of Jessie navigating the pros and cons of consumer tech finds this franchise at its best.
—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
What are the pros and cons there?
—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
Earlier this year its school board was mixed on doing so and discussed the pros and cons of the program during a board meeting in January.
—
Samuel O’Neal 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2026
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Noun
What are the cons of investing in gold?
—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
Read this for details of how to download and read on for the pros and cons of installing the new software now.
—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The board weighed the pros and cons.
—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
Downside To Dryer Balls Dryer balls don't have many cons.
—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
At the same time, the process of Jessie navigating the pros and cons of consumer tech finds this franchise at its best.
—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
What are the pros and cons there?
—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
Earlier this year its school board was mixed on doing so and discussed the pros and cons of the program during a board meeting in January.
—
Samuel O’Neal 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2026
Verb
Keith arrests our thinking, and cons us into suppressing our critical faculties with the same kind of internalized surveillance that philosopher Michel Foucault broke down to describe a prison’s use of the panopticon in Discipline and Punish.
—
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cons
Noun
-
Israel has historically negotiated with Palestinian militant groups to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners and detainees even as critics warned the practice could encourage more kidnappings.
-
Jails already have a poor record safeguarding prisoners who go into withdrawal upon incarceration.
Noun
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For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
-
Even worse, many of those scams targeted older individuals and are getting even more money from them than in years past.
Verb
-
Michael Tippett, a climate scientist at Columbia University who studies the ties between El Niño and weather patterns, said that on average, there is no strong link between El Niño and shifts in summer weather patterns over the US and Europe.
-
Beginning in kindergarten, children’s knowledge of numbers becomes more formal and symbol-based, according to Alice Klein, a developmental psychologist who studies early math screening and intervention.
Verb
-
Schedule system reviews quarterly and assign ownership, with one person responsible for auditing each system, flagging outdated steps and implementing improvements.
-
She's being held on $50,000 bail as the District Attorney's Office reviews the case.
Verb
-
Despite concerns that chip stocks could be topping out as the industry hustles to boost supply, Wall Street thinks Micron still has plenty of room to run.
-
In games like Tuesday, when that deep postseason run seems realistic, UCLA pops the ball around on offense and communicates and hustles to overcome its deficiencies on defense.
Verb
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Removing fading flowers and their seed pods tricks the plant to redirect its energy from producing seeds to producing more scapes and flower buds, as well as putting energy into root development and storing energy for the next growing season.
-
Well, at least Cindy's been fighting the good fight, which Brenda tricks her into waging alone every time.
Noun
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Written by Evan Cooper, Blood On The Promontory finds five convicts trying to escape through the mountains following a violent train robbery, while shackled together by foot.
-
Also, from the 19th century to the 20th century, the island served as a holding area for convicts being sent from mainland France to overseas penal colonies—a sobering thread in the sunny island’s past.
Noun
-
Their only inheritance is a legacy of two-bit crime that inspires them to run increasingly audacious frauds.
-
Lan, 69, built a sprawling real estate empire of luxury homes and commercial properties before she was accused of one of the biggest frauds in global history.
Cite this Entry
“Cons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cons. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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